Staff Treating Patients Poorly Or Am I Too Sensitive

[Guest1201992]

I started at a psych unit a couple months ago and this is my first job as a nurse.

I don't like the way I hear staff talking to/about the patients.

Examples:

One patient had a history of domestic abuse, and a coworker told me "her boyfriend probably hit her because of her mouth".

Another nurse joked about how fat a patient was and that she was an "***" then this nurse proceeded to be nice to her face.

An 18 year old was put in 4 point restraints and one guy "joked" they would let her *** the bed and they could just change the sheets when she started yelling she had to go to the bathroom. Same guy talked about how "dumb" all the patients are

Worst coworker called a developmentally delayed patient "***" and a "***" in the break room.

One schizophrenic patient, old skinny guy, threatened to beat up a female staff member. The charge nurse, very tall heavyset man, got in this patient's face and started yelling at him and threatening to hurt the patient, then when he was done yelling he turned to me and told me to give him a shot. I felt like this charge nurse just wanted to feel tough so he started threatening him. When a tall heavyset woman was combative, this nurse put in a mouth guard and let me give the shot, like he was afraid to do it or something.

All of these people are my fellow nurses.

I have seen coworkers give the "nursing dose" where they give extra ativan and haldol. Or sometimes they give an injection, then leave the med vials out and tell me to scan and chart it in the computer for them, which terrifies me because I was taught "don't chart it if you didn't give it" in nursing school. Got into a fight with a coworker today about that.

I love my patients, but I hate my coworkers.

What do you guys think?

[klone, MSN, RN]

I think it's horrific and I would not want to work in that environment. I mean, I get burnout with challenging patients, but that is abusive.

I would document every instance of this that you witness, look for another job, quit this job, and demand an exit interview with HR wherein you give them everything you witnessed/documented. I mean, you could do that NOW, but if that's the culture of the unit, you, a single new employee, are not going to change it.

[Guest1201992]

klone,

Thank you for responding. I feel like I'm going crazy because that behavior is so common on the unit.

One woman's clothes were lost/stolen in the ER, and she was crying and yelling loudly on the phone about it. A doctor took one look at her and said they had to give her a shot. He didn't even ask if she wanted to talk about what happened to help her calm down.

I am so fed up with my coworkers.

 

Thank you again for responding

[Davey Do]

I second klone's advice on documentation and reporting, and even though I usually stayed and fought the good fight, this place sounds like a sinking ship.

However, I have risked my own employment in order to do what I thought was right, but that was at the end of my career, and I was ready to retire anyway.

Go with your gut and what you think is best, Please-kill-me.

I believe you will.

[Emergent, RN]

It sounds like a very burnt out, negative group of people working with extremely challenging patients. I hope you find something better soon. Good luck!

[Davey Do]

I don't. know if it's burnout or people who never learned how to deal with the mentally ill population. Strongarming and bullying are just easy and fast ways to deal with others to those with low self-esteems who are not blessed with any sort of higher consciousness.

 I have been in similar situations in my career and have fought the good fight. However, it was a long and rough row to hoe. I have been threatened, ostracized, rejected, bad mouthed, harassed, and eventually accepted & respected or gotten rid of.

As a nurse, I adhered to certain high standards and would never allow patients to be abused in any way. I was always at an advantage to most because I did not have anybody else relying on me for my paycheck. I could sacrifice myself and my job for a higher purpose.

Unfortunately, my tact was not one most could take, as most have kids and a family dependent upon their wages.

We choose our priorities in life and most want their cake and eat it too.  I was satisfied with my cake and chose it as the meat of the matter.

[JKL33]

13 hours ago, klone said:

I think it's horrific and I would not want to work in that environment. I mean, I get burnout with challenging patients, but that is abusive.

Agree.

OP, there is no excuse for this.

Quote

I have seen coworkers give the "nursing dose" where they give extra ativan and haldol.

Illegal and unethical.

13 hours ago, Please-kill-me said:

Or sometimes they give an injection, then leave the med vials out and tell me to scan and chart it in the computer for them, which terrifies me because I was taught "don't chart it if you didn't give it" in nursing school. Got into a fight with a coworker today about that.

Stand your ground. Don't get wrapped up into a single one of the bad behaviors these people are doing.  Just say no, don't argue. "I'm not doing that"--and walk away.

I would get out of this place if you can.

Take care ~

[JBMmom, MSN, NP]

When I read the title of your post I was fully prepared to try and play devil's advocate and give your new coworkers the benefit of the doubt for being good people that just on occasion are over worked or stressed. Then I read your post and I have to say NO WAY! The things you describe are beyond disturbing and unfortunately it sounds like they have now probably attracted a certain personality that can acclimate and thrive in the environment. As others have mentioned, PLEASE document the things you have observed and consider going to a management person in the facility with your findings. And hopefully you have another position lined up so you can walk out the door. How heartbreaking that such a vulnerable community is subjected to people that really have no business providing care. Good luck to you!

Edited to add there are also probably a number of ways you can anonymously report this to your DPH, you might consider that if you're concerned about reaching out to management. 

[londonflo]

9 hours ago, Davey Do said:

I have been in similar situations in my career and have fought the good fight.

When I read the OP's post, I thought I need to hear what Davey Do says to do, You are always thoughtful and calm in your replies. I hope the OP takes what you say to heart. 

 

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

What attracted you to psych nursing?  

It is not a good way to start out, and it will limit you. You are in a toxic environment for YOU and the patients. Move on.

[Guest1201992]

Update

Probably quitting this job this week. Got into a fight with two other nurses.

I had a patient who would take his risperdal every night that I was passing out meds. This guy falls asleep early, so I make sure to get him his meds before he falls asleep, and if he does fall asleep, I wake him up and he calmly and politely takes them. Another nurse however, did not give him the meds, she would chart "patient refused" because she wouldn't wake him up when he fell asleep.

So this patient comes up to me one day, and is confused because the doctors told him he had been "refusing" his meds. I walk into report and there is a note about how this patient has "sporadic compliance with meds" and as a result was more than likely going to court. When I tried to talk to the nurse about this (I was calm, not accusing) she closed the door in my face.

We got into another disagreement regarding meds later, because of the "nursing dose" she was doing. She went into an office and screamed (yes screamed) about me to another nurse.

Next day, a different nurse (the one who my coworker complained to about me) yelled at me in front of staff and a patient, about how I was "telling other nurses how to do their jobs" and needed to "stay my own lane"

I tried to talk it out, it didn't work, I am done.

Thank you guys so much for responding, my coworkers made me feel like I was overreacting or being too sensitive. It meant a lot to see the support.

Last question, does anyone have experience in reporting a facility to the DPH for misconduct?

[londonflo]

26 minutes ago, Please-kill-me said:

Thank you guys so much for responding, my coworkers made me feel like I was overreacting or being too sensitive. It meant a lot to see the support.

Last question, does anyone have experience in reporting a facility to the DPH for misconduct?

I would message Davey Do.  He is always the calm in the storm, and if/when you leave this facility, he will give you advice on how to move on. He has posted above

 With regards to the horrendous  work situation, I would contact him here. He has excellent practice examples for those working in mental health facilities. He answered a previous post above!,

With regards to me Frankly I feel I should contract with him for 'living life in 2022-2023'. Davy Do do you telemedicine visits?